Voices Inside & Outside Of Courthouse At Porter Trial

Credit: WBAL's Robert Lang
Tawanda Jones (second from left) appeared at a protest on Wednesday night.

Credit: WBAL TV's David Collins
Some of the protesters this week at the Officer William Porter trial.

Two weeks after jury selection began, the manslaughter and misconduct trial of Baltimore City Police Officer William Porter is expected to go to the jury Monday, after the jury hears instructions from the judge, and closing arguments from attorneys.

Porter is the first of the six officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray to stand trial.

He is charged with involuntary manslaughter, second degree assault, reckless endangerment, and misconduct in office.

He could face more than 10 years in prison if convicted.

A jury of seven women and five men is hearing the case.

The prosecution wrapped up its case on Tuesday. On Maryland's News This Week, University of Maryland School of Law Professor Doug Colbert said the prosecution did an effective job in proving its case that Officer Porter's negligence in failing to put a seat belt on Freddie Gray, and failing to get him medical attention contributed to his death.

The defense presented 12 witnesses over three days before wrapping up its case Friday afternoon.

The star witness for the defense was Officer Porter himself, who testified on Wednesday. Defense attorney Warren Brown, who is not involved in this case , said that Porter's testimony "humanized" him in the minds of the jury of seven women and five men.

Brown appeared on Maryland's News This Week.

The trial has attracted its share of spectators and protesters.

Thomas, who was outside Courthouse East on Thursday, told Maryland's News This Week that he was arrested in the 1980's and was never put in a seat belt. He said that requirement exists only because of Freddie Gray.

The policy took effect April 3, and under testimony from prosecution witnesses, the policy was emailed to all officers on April 9, three days before Gray's arrest.

Tawanda Jones, the sister of Tyrone West who died in police custody in 2013, says she has been watching the trial closely. She told Maryland's News This Week that she believes Porter will be acquitted.

Jones, who has been organizing weekly demonstrations at City Hall against police brutality, said she fears more unrest after the verdict, and is telling people to "increase the peace."

She said violence like what occurred in April will not bring Freddie Gray back, it won't bring her brother back.

She says the rioting and looting dishonors her brother's memory and Gray's memory.

On Maryland's News This Week, MPT's Charles Robinson joined WBAL's Robert Lang for some analysis of the trial.